MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Florida, May 27 -- The U.S. Central Command issued the following news release: TAMPA, Fla. - At approximately 4 a.m. (Sanaa time) on May 27, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) forces successfully destroyed one uncrewed aerial system (UAS) over the Red Sea, launched from an Iranian-backed Houthi controlled area of Yemen. It was determined the UAS presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels in the region. These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and mak  more

WASHINGTON, May 29 -- The U.S. Department of Defense issued the following news on May 28, 2024: By Joseph Clark, DOD News The National Guard remains at the ready to support local communities as states prepare for natural disasters and extreme weather events, officials said today. Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Robert F. Paoletti, the director of the joint staff for the California National Guard, and Lt. Col. Blake Heidelberg, director of military support for the Florida National Guard, briefe  more

EGLIN AFB, Florida, May 29 -- The U.S. Air Force's Eglin Air Force Base issued the following news: Air Force officials selected 5,500 technical sergeants for promotion to master sergeant out of 29,497 eligible for a selection rate of 18.65 percent in the 24E7 promotion cycle, which includes supplemental promotion opportunities. Eglin had approximately 76 selected. The average overall score for those selected was 390.1. Selectees' average time in grade was 4.32 years and time in service was 13.  more

TAMPA, Florida, May 29 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida issued the following news release: United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the unsealing of an indictment charging seven individuals with drug trafficking offenses. The indictment also notifies the individuals that the United States intends to forfeit a purple Springfield Armory Hellcat 9mm pistol and assorted ammunition. An eighth individual was charged by criminal complaint. Table: Indictm  more

MIAMI, Florida, May 29 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Markenzy Lapointe, issued the following news release: On May 24, a Lee County man was sentenced to prison for conspiring to illegally export thousands of turtles to Germany and Hong Kong, and falsifying documents to conceal his conduct. John Michael Kreatsoulas, 36, of Alva, Florida, was sentenced to serve a year and a day in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine. Kreatsoul  more

WASHINGTON, May 29 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on May 28, 2024: The Justice Department's Tax Division filed a civil injunction suit today to permanently bar Niclas Pierre and Elius Bessard and their tax return preparation businesses, Niclas Tax and Express Inc. and Bessard Immigrations and Tax Services LLC, from preparing federal tax returns for others. The United States also seeks an order requiring the defendants to disgorge to the United States their i  more